Knee decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural issues and scheduling of a videoconference hearing for the Veteran. The claims for service connection for residuals of a heart attack, knee disability, stomach disability, skin disorder, and left hand disability are still pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for fibromyalgia and left knee disorder is granted. The rating for hemorrhoids prior to July 15, 2014 is also granted at a 10 percent level.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further analysis of the Veteran's knee disabilities, including consideration of his service history and any potential relationship to parachute jumps.

The Board denied service connection for low back disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), migraine headaches, left hip disability, and left knee disability due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental opinion regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot condition caused or aggravated his current right knee and low back disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records related to his claimed alcoholism. The issues of service connection for a low back disability and right knee disability have been granted, but are no longer before the Board.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including epilepsy, lumbar spine arthritis, right knee instability and chondromalacia, do not render her unemployable prior to August 13, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran not appearing for a scheduled Travel Board hearing. The claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Board videoconference hearing due to her and her representative's requests.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by fracture of the patella and degenerative changes with instability, has been rated at 30 percent since 2004. The most recent VA examination did not show ankylosis or severe recurrent subluxation/lateral instability warranting higher ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability is related to his military service and grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the Veteran's left knee disability rating from 20 percent to 10 percent, effective May 1, 2009 was improper and restored the prior 20 percent rating. The right knee disability claim remains denied.

The Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for his right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional examination and imaging.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current right shoulder and knee disabilities are related to her active service, meeting all elements of service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and increased rating for his right knee disability was denied as the evidence did not show that he had a right knee disability prior to June 2, 2011 or that his current level of disability warranted a higher rating.

The Board is remanding the case for a video hearing due to the Veteran's request.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA Gulf War examination to address his claimed conditions and determine if they are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right knee disability, which includes a total knee arthroplasty (TKA), is at least as likely as not related to his in-service right knee injury during military service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the current severity of his right knee disability and whether he is entitled to a TDIU due to combined effects of service-connected disabilities.